This ethnic studies project is an act of reclaiming stories, healing in community and carrying our cultural wealth forward for future generations.

Griots are West African storytellers who are responsible for holding on to their community’s stories and history. As the Puerto Rican author, Dhalma Llanos-Figeroa says in her book, Daughters of the Stone, “They (the village) believed that if you forgot where you came from, you wouldn’t understand where you were or where you were going.” Griots hold the great gift of sharing the peoples’ stories. Areitos are Taino ceremonies for celebrations that include dance, music, poetry and storytelling. They play a central role in the Taino political and social life and bring people together, in circle, to co-create, co-celebrate and co-analyze their lives and community. El Griot & Areito Project honors Carribean ancestral wisdom by creating literary spaces and experiences that embody the spirit of both Griots and Areitos.

El Griot & Areito Project

Decolonizing through words and stories, in community.